DISCCRS VI Symposium
Colorado Springs, CO
Jared Entin
Earth Science Division
Science Mission Directorate
NASA Headquarters
October 25, 2011
Where is NASA Science?
Where is NASA Earth Science?
Acting Associate Administrator (AA) (Chuck Gay)
Deputy AA (Chuck Gay)
Assistant AA (Colleen Hartman)
Science Office for
Mission
Assessments
Deputy AA for Programs
(Mike Luther)
Chief Scientist
(Paul Hertz)
Research Lead
(M. Bernstein)
E/PO Lead
(S. Stockman)
Resource
Management Division
Dir. (C. Tupper)
Dep. (K. Wolf)
Earth Science
Division
Dir. (M. Freilich)
Dep. (M. Luce)
Joint Agency
Satellite Division
Dir. (M. Watkins)
Dep. (D. Schurr)
JWST Program
Office
Dir. (Rick
Howard)*
Dep. (E. Smith)
Deputy AA for Management
(Roy Maizel)
Strategic & Intl
Planning Director (Marc
Allen)
Strategic Integration &
Management Division
Dir. (D. Woods)
Dep. (G. Williams)
Heliophysics
Division
Dir. (B. Giles)
Dep. (V. Elsbernd)
Planetary Science
Division
Dir. (J. Green)
Dep. (J. Adams)
Astrophysics
Division
Act. Dir. (G. Yoder)
Dep. (G. Yoder)
Solar System Exploration
(J. Adams-Act)
Mars Exploration
(D. McCuistion)
Planetary Research
(J.Rall)
Planetary Protection
Officer (C. Conley)**
NASA’s Earth System Science Endeavor
• The Earth is an integral, complex system
– Many processes, with varying time and spatial scales
– Quantitatively describing the interactions between processes is key
• Measurements must span all important variables, and all
important scales
• Research leads to greater understanding, which is codified in
numerical models – prediction
• Societal benefits result when understanding is combined with
measurements to generate useful information products
NASA’s Approach
• Space-borne measurements feature global coverage, high
spatial resolution, and frequent revisit
– Indirect measurements must be validated
– Stability and accuracy are essential for trend detection
– Multiple missions needed for proper sampling
• A comprehensive suite of missions and instruments is
required to measure all important quantities
• Inter- and cross- disciplinary research and applications
programs are needed to (among other things):
– Synthesize complementary measurements from multiple missions
– Advance the use of space-borne measurements by non-mission
scientists and other stakeholders
Earth Science @ NASA
•
Overarching goal
– To advance Earth System Science, including climate studies, through spaceborne data acquisition, research and analysis, and predictive modeling
•
Six major activities
– Building and operating Earth observing satellite missions, many with
international and interagency partners
– Making high-quality data products available to the broad science community
– Conducting and sponsoring cutting-edge research in 6 thematic focus areas
• Field campaigns to complement satellite measurements
• Analyses of non-NASA mission data
• Modeling
– Applied science
– Developing technologies to improve Earth observation capabilities
– Education and public outreach
Thematic Focus Areas
Research and Analysis
Applied Sciences
• Atmospheric Composition
• Ecological Forecasting
• Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems
• Disaster Management
• Climate Variability and Change
• Public Health and Air Quality
• Weather
• Water Management
• Water and Energy Cycle
• Earth Surface and Interior
http://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/
NASA Research Opportunities (NRA)
• All research opportunities from the Science Mission
Directorate (SMD) at NASAHQ are posted at
http://nspires.nasaprs.com/
• Omnibus Research Opportunities in Space and Earth
Sciences (ROSES) issued annually
• All Earth Science opportunities in Appendix A of ROSES
• Guidebook for Proposers Responding to an NRA
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/nraguidebook/
NRA Evaluation Criteria
•
NASA Relevance
– How does the proposed investigation addresses the goals and objectives of
the most recent NASA strategy document or a specific program element?
•
Intrinsic Merit
– Overall scientific/technical merit, unique/innovative methods, approaches,
concepts, or advanced technologies demonstrated by the proposal
– Offeror’s capabilities, related experiences, facilities, techniques, or unique
combination of these
– Qualifications, capabilities, and experiences of the PI and key personnel
– Evaluation against state-of-the-art
•
Cost
– Realism and reasonableness of the proposed cost, and comparison of the
proposed cost to available funds
Successful vs. Unsuccessful Proposals
What, Why, How, When, How Much, So What?
Clarity
vs.
Tips
• New to NASA? Understand what NASA does first by reading the strategic
plan, looking at previous selection results or volunteering to be a
reviewer.
• When you think you understand the program announcement or
solicitation, read it again.
• No need to annoy the reviewers.
• No need to take the risk of finishing and/or submitting the proposal at
the last minute.
Other Items of Interest
• The Airborne Science Program and its Student Airborne
Science Program (SARP)
http://airbornescience.nasa.gov/
• NASA Postdoctoral Program
http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/
• New Investigator Program (NIP) in Earth Science
– Single-investigator proposals solicited every two years; maximum
$120K/year for 3 years; an education plan required with Research :
Education ~ 2 : 1
• NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) Program
– Applications solicited annually; $30K/year up to 3 years; approx. 50
new awards per year
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